Lorente L, Martín MM, Pérez-Cejas A, et al. - Given their previous work demonstrating a higher serum substance P concentrations at day 1 of a malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMCAI; defined as CT findings of acute infarction in at least of 50% of the territory and Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8) in non-surviving than in surviving patients, researchers here examined if mortality could be predicted with serum substance P levels during the first week of MMCAI. They determined serum concentrations of substance P in patients with MMCAI on days 1, 4 and 8 of MMCAI. Non-surviving (n = 34) patients exhibited higher serum substance P concentrations at days 1, 4, and 8 of MMCAI than surviving patients (n = 34). Findings here support the utility of assessing serum substance P concentrations for predicting 30-day mortality.